Mistrial motion denied in trial in Abilene man's murder

A motion for a mistrial was denied Wednesday in the first-degree murder trial of a suspect accused of fatally shooting a man during an argument in the parking lot of a west Abilene condominium last year after.

Alfred James "Cato" Williams, 26, of Dallas, went on trial Monday in the 350th District Court in connection with the Oct. 18, 2011, death of 22-year-old Kerion Harness at Little Elm Condos, 5457 Laguna Drive. If convicted, Williams faces up to 99 years in prison.

Harness was shot multiple times in the torso and arm during an argument between him and Williams, police said. He died later that day at Hendrick Medical Center.

Defense attorneys requested a mistrial after it was revealed police officers who investigated the case did not include information in reports about a possible weapon at the scene.

APD Detective Ernest Moscarelli told jurors Wednesday he did not include all the information given to him during an interview with a woman who had direct contact with Williams after the shooting.

The woman testified Tuesday she told police that Williams told her he saw someone take out a weapon from Harness' vehicle after the crime. That information was not included in the sworn affidavit she gave to police, she testified.

Williams' defense attorneys say their client shot and killed Harness in self-defense because he believed Harness was walking to his vehicle to retrieve a weapon. Prosecutors say once the shooting was over, Williams fled and was captured by U.S. Marshals in Dallas nine days later.

Moscarelli's supervisor, Police Sgt. Lynn Beard, testified Wednesday that although he overheard a person at the crime scene say there was a weapon hidden in bushes, a thorough sweep of the complex revealed no weapon.

Beard said a large crowd of people at the complex, mostly bystanders, were uncooperative with police.

Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday. The trial is scheduled to resume today, with Williams' defense attorneys calling their first witness to the stand.